Objective Nerve growth factor (NGF) is thought to be one of regulating factors of cellular function during the visual plasticity period. Levodopa is a neurotransmitter in central nerve system. Its mechanism of improving the visual function in amblyopia is unclear. Present study was to observe the role of levodopa in treating monocular deprived amblyopia and explore the effects of levodopa on the expression of NGF in visual cortex. Methods The animal models of monocular form deprived amblyopia were established in the right eyes of 12 4-week-old domestic cats by suturing the eyelid for 2 weeks and then the left eyes were reverse sutured. The 6 cats from models received 20 mg/kg of levodopa by oral administration. Other 6 normal cats were as normal controls. Pattern VEP (P-VEP) was recorded to check the visual acuity of the cats. The cell number density of NGF expression in visual cortex area 17 was detected and calculated by immunochemistry and expressed as positive number/field. Results The amplitude of P_(100) of P-VEP was significantly declined in monocular deprived eyes compared with fellow eyes and normal eyes in 2 weeks after monocular deprivation (P ＜0. 01) . However, after administration of levodopa, the amplitude of P_(100) recovered to normal 2 weeks later, presenting a insignificant difference between levodopa treating group and normal group (P＞ 0. 05). The latency of P_(100) was followed the same pattern between two groups. The NGF positive cells were decreased in monocular deprived group compared with normal group and levodopa group (80. 23 ± 9. 54 vs 111. 83 ± 7. 49, 80. 23 ± 9. 54 vs 118. 06 ± 12. 37, P ＜ 0. 01), but no significant difference in NGF positive cells was found between normal group and levodopa group (111.83 ±7. 49 vs 118. 06 ± 12. 37, P = 0. 94). Conclusion Levodopa is supposed to accelerate the recovery of visual function in amblyopic cat by enhancing the NGF expression in visual cortex area 17 during the critical period of visual development.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture plus He-Ne laser irradiation in treating cervical spondylotic radiculopathy (CSR) and to provide evidence for optimizing the treatment protocol. Method Totally 120 CSR patients were randomized into group A, group B, and group C, 40 in each group. Group A was intervened by acupuncture plus He-Ne laser irradiation, group B was by acupuncture alone, and group C was by the laser irradiation alone. The CSR rating scale was adopted for observation before and after intervention, and the therapeutic efficacy was also evaluated.Result The CSR rating score was changed significantly in all of the three groups after intervention (P<0.05). The change of CSR rating score in group A was significantly different from that in both group B and C (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 97.5% in group A, versus 92.5% in group C and 80.0% in group C, and the total effective rate of group A was significantly different from that in both group B and C (P<0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture plus He-Ne laser irradiation is an effective method in treating CSR.

Background and purpose:For patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma harboring an activating EGFR gene mutation, the current standard of care is EGFR-TKI alone. This study aimed to compare efficacy and safety of gefitinib plus chemotherapy with gefitinib or chemotherapy alone for treating advanced lung adenocarcinoma with an activatingEGFR gene mutation.Methods:This study included 61 patients with lung adenocarcinoma harboring an acti-vatingEGFR gene mutation (19 exons deletion and exon 21 L858R mutations) whose ECOG performance status was 0 or 1. Patients were randomly divided into 3 groups. Group A (n=20) were given carboplatin/pemetrexed of a 4-week cycle, six cycles at most, plus gefitinib (pemetrexed 500 mg/m2, d1; carboplatin AUC 5, d1; gefitinib 250 mg/d, d 5-21), and then re-ceived pemetrexed of a 4-week cycle plus gefitinib as maintenance therapy; Group B (n=20) were given carboplatin/peme-trexed of a 4-week cycle, six cycles at most (pemetrexed 500 mg/m2, d1; carboplatin AUC 5, d1), then received pemetrexed as maintenance therapy; Group C (n=21) were given gefitinib (gefitinib 250 mg/d). Patients continued to receive therapy until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity or death. The primary end point was middle PFS and 12 months PFS rate. The secondary end points included objective response rate and adverse events.Results:Groups A and C both lost 1 case during follow-up. Median PFS for patients was 20.1 months (95%CI:18.0-22.2) in group A, 5.5 months (95%CI:3.9-7.2) in group B, and 9.8 months (95%CI:6.8-12.8) in group C. PFS rates of 12 months for groups A, B and C were 78.9%, 15.0% and 40.0%, respectively. The overall objective response rates for groups A, B and C were 84.2%, 35.0% and 65.0%, respectively. Serious adverse events were reported by 36.8% for group A, 30.0% for group B, and 5.0% for group C. The most common grade 3/4 adverse events were neutropenia (3 cases in group A, 4 cases in group B), fatigue (2 cases in group A, 2 cases in group B) and liver function impairment (2 cases in group A, 1 case in group C).Conclusion:Among patients withEGFR mutant lung adenocarcinoma, combination of chemotherapy with gefitinib as first-line treatment demonstrates an improvement in PFS. Long-term survival results will be further followed up.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of acupuncture on motor function and serum expressions of TNF-aand IL-6 contents in cerebral hemorrhage rats.MethodSeventy-two male Wistar rats were randomized into sham operation, model and acupuncture groups. A rat model of cerebral hemorrhage was made by intracerebral injection of autoblood. Baihui-to-Qubin acupuncture was performed after successful model making. The TNF-aand IL-6 contents of rat serum were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay at three time points: one, three and seven days.ResultBaihui-to-Qubin acupuncture markedly increased the neurological function score and reduced neurologic deficits in cerebral hemorrhage rats. At the same time point, serum TNF-aand IL-6 contents were significantly lower in the acupuncture group of rats thanin the model and acupuncture group; there were statistically significant differences (P<0.01).ConclusionBaihui-to-Qubin acupuncture can reduce neurologic deficits in cerebral hemorrhage rats. It may be related to decreases in serum TNF-aand IL-6 contents after acupuncture.

Objective To investigate the effect of acute myocardium ischemic on heart function of pregnancy rat.Methods 13 female SD rats and 6 early pregnancy rats were divided into normal group, unpregnant group with acute myocardial infarction and early pregnant group with acute myocardial infarction. The anterior branch of the left coronary artery was ligated. 3 weeks later, Image 1.31 software was used to measure areas of myocardial infarction,and to evaluate hemodynamics of heart with powerLAB4.12, and cardiac tissues were stained with Massion. Results Compared with unpregnant group with acute myocardial infarction , the early pregnant group with acute myocardial infarction had less myocardial infarction area (28. 86% vs. 36. 8%), and had a higher left ventricle end systolic pressure, ±dp/dt max, and lower left ventricle end diastolic pressure. Massion stain showed the amount of collagen of the lesion was less in the early pregnant group with acute myocardial infarction than that in unpregnant group.Conclusion The early pregnant group with acute myocardial infarction had better heart contractive and diastolic function.

1.0,achieved the standard request of Disinfection Technology standard.RESULTS Through EOW disinfection,the bacteria were not found on the object surfac of transports and conformed to the object surface disinfection request of Disinfection Technology Standard.CONCLUSIONS Applying EOW to disinfection of polluted instrument recycling vehicle for clinical purpose can fulfill the State standards completely;EOW has strongly germicidal activity,also with characteristics as rapidity,safety and environment security,without any irritant odor.These results indicate a widely potential use of EOW as in hospital disinfection supply center,especially,with a positive significance in health care for pediatric patients.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the release of matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8) and apoptosis rate of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) after PMNs was triggered by Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) in vitro.

METHODSThe activated E. faecalis suspension was prepared and added to PMNs suspension as experiment group. As a positive control, phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) was used. As negative control, PMNs suspension was incubated with PBS. The release of MMP-8 was measured at 0, 20, 60, 120 min by ELISA method. E. faecalis lysate acted on PMNs as experiment group, PMNs suspension was incubated with PBS as negative control, samples in two groups were incubated at 37 degrees C for 2, 5, 10, 15 h. The apoptosis rate of PMNs was tested by Flow Cytometry.

RESULTSAt 0 min, there was no significant difference of MMP-8 release in the experiment group and positive control (P>0.01); whereas at 60, 120 min, E. faecalis induced a significant lower MMP-8 release compared with the positive control (P<0.01). The apoptosis rate of PMNs in both groups increased along with time, and apoptotic rate in experiment group was higher than that in the control group at 2, 5, 10, 15 h (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONAfter E. faecalis act on PMNs, no significant release of MMP-8 from PMNs was observed. E. faecalis don't induce PMNs apoptosis delay.

Apoptosis ; Enterococcus faecalis ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 8 ; Neutrophils ; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate

OBJECTIVETo evaluate shrinkage range of cleared teeth caused by nitric acid with different temperature and concentration.

METHODS48 human teeth were root canal-prepared and filled, then randomly and averagely divided into six groups on the basis of temperature and density of nitric acid and the condition of whether or not added the oscillate. Group A was 20 degrees C with 6% nitric acid, group B was 20 degrees C with 6% nitric acid and oscillate, group C was 20 degrees C with 3% nitric acid, group D was 20 degrees C with 3% nitric acid and oscillate, group E was 30 degrees C with 6% nitric acid and oscillate, group F was 30 degrees C with 3% nitric acid and oscillate. After achieving the standard of the decalcification, all the specimens were gradually dehydrated, and then cleared and conserved using methyl salicylate. Time-consumed and shrinkage range of all the specimens were recorded and analyzed.

RESULTSThe time of decalcification in group E was the fastest, then was group F, group B. Group C was the last one. The anastole of the specimens was group E > group B > group A, group F > group D > group C, group B > group D, group E > group D, there was significant difference (P < 0.05). Group C had significant difference with other groups (P < 0.05). The anastole rate of the specimens had no significant difference between group A and group B, group C and group D, group B and group F, group D and group F.

CONCLUSIONIn 20 degrees C, 3% nitric acid with oscillate to carry out the decalcification can use less time and get less anastole. The result of the tooth-clearing technique is the best.

Decalcification Technique ; Humans ; Nitric Acid ; Root Canal Preparation ; Temperature

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of excessive fluoride on type I collagen in rat developmental dentine.

METHODSEighty SD rats, 5 days old, were divided into experimental and control groups, 40 in each group. The experimental group received subcutaneous injection of 0.2% NaF every 4 days (the dose was 2 mg NaF per kg body wt). The same volume of 0.9% NaCl was used in the control. Twenty rats in each group were killed 4 days after the second and the seventh injection respectively. The expression of type I collagen was assayed with immunohistochemical technique.

RESULTS4 out of 20 rats after two injections showed abnormal distribution of type I collagen (dense stain of collagen in the odontoblast, aggregation of collagen in the dentine and disordered arrangement of collagen in the predentine; All 20 rats after seven injections showed abnormal distribution of type I collagen.

CONCLUSIONExcessive fluoride may affect the metabolism of type I collagen in rat developmental dentine.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Collagen Type I ; analysis ; Dentin ; chemistry ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Fluorides ; toxicity ; Immunohistochemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To investigate the effect of arsenic trioxide(As_2 O_3)nanoparticles on rabbit vascular smooth muscle cells in vitro in comparison with normal form As_2 03.Methods The rabbit vascular smooth muscle cells were cultured in vitro.Nano and normal forms of As_2O_3 with drug concentrations of 3?mol/L were added into the cells.Cell proliferation curve was drawn according to the light absorption values of MTT test.Flow cytometry was applied to observe the apoptosis.DNA was extracted and underwent electrophoresis.Results Cell proliferation treated with the 3?mol/L concentration of As_2O_3 was inhibited. Cell growth was inhibited markedly with increased treatment time,and the inhibition effect of nano drug form seemed stronger than that of normal form.MTT light absorption values of cells treated at 24,48 and 72 h showed statistically significant difference(H=10.934,15.039,15.539,P